Stalk cutter



June 4, 1929. e. w. EDWARDS 1,715,450

STALK CUTTER Filed April 25, 1928 Patented Jame, 1929. l v r l.

EORGE w. apwanns,

our-mourn; GEORGIA. I

l ,STALK entrails.

Application filed April 25,1928. Serial No. 272,827. I

This invention relates to improvements in stalk-cutters.

The principal object of the inventionis toa clean cut is insured and atthe'same'time the blades are practically self-sharpening. Still anotherobject of the invention is to provide a stalk-cutter with an improvednonclogging drum or roller of simple and durable construction which addsmaterially to the efficiency of the cutter and prevents clogging. IOther objects and advantages will in part be obvious and in part morefully brought out as the description of the invention proceeds. I

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated an embodiment of myinvention;

but it is to be understood that the draw ings are illustrative, merely,and are notto be construed as limiting the invention to the details ofconstruction therein shown. It will be obvious to those skilled in theart that modification may be made without sacrificing any of theadvantages of my invention or departing from the salient featuresthereof.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a stalk-cutter I of my invention; I I

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of my improved blade-supportingwheels.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates,generally, a sup porting frame which may be of any welllrnownconstruction. Suitably secured to the sides of the frame 1 are thedepending brackets 2 which support bearing blocks 3 in which an axle orshaft 4 is j ournaled'.

Mounted upon the axle 4: and keyed thereto by any convenient means, arethe bladesupporting wheels 5. These wheels are prefriding erablymade ofcast iron and-have a hub 6,u a body+portion 7, and'a felloe 8,all-integrally united. The outsideof'the'body-portion may be dished outor slightly concave, if de sired.

porting elements or projections 9pref-' erably seven in'number,as-illustrated in the drawings... Each pro yection is apert-ured as Thefelloe 8 is provided with a I I I I mlity Of equally-spaced integralblade-supat 10 for the reception ofja bolt 11 byrmeans of which acutter-blade12-issecured-to the V II 1 projection. The blade-supportingface of the v projections is locatedat' such an angle to the felloe thata line drawn therefrom towards the center of the wheel 'will not'passthrough .f the center. thisangular disposition of the blades,.they arethrown perpendicularly to the groundwhen the wheels rotate, thusinsuring a positive cutand, at the same time,

the blades are made practically self-sharp: I

' eni'ns'. I

to receive and securely retain the ends of a hollow metallic roller ordrum l twhichsur- Each of the wheels 5"isprovided on its i inner facewith a groove 13 of suitabledepth' 7 rounds the axle, 1. The drum 14 isprefer- V ably made of heavy sheet metal and is formed by folding intowhat may be called starshape, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. It will, ofcourse, be understood that the shape of the groove 13 is the same asthat of the drum, p 2 as shown in' Fig. 4. The points, or edges, 15

of the drum are locatedin alinement with the cutter-blades 12 and form",practically, an

extension thereof for a desired distance, thus preventing anythingbecoming wedged bei tween the blades 'andthe drum. 1

From the points inwardly, the walls of the.

drum diverge and form a plurality of sub- ,stantially rectangularpockets 16, These pockets will effectually prevent anything fromclogging the cutter, since the cut stalks and dirt cannot become lodgedtherein but 7 y will be discharged therefrom upon rotation of the drum.I

By bending sheet metal to form the 14; as above described, greatstrength' and rigidity is imparted thereto and the defects I anddisadvantages of the wooden rollers now in use are overcome.

Suitably mounted upon the cutter is a spring stem 17 which supports aseat 18 for the driver. i i

It will now be seen that I have provided a practical and eficientstalk-cutter embody ing all of the advantages above set forth.

frame of'thei iBy reason of the shape-of theblade-supporting wheels andthe factthat they are pro vided with felloes, side-sway of the outter'iseffectually prevented, even thoughone heel may' be traveling on hardground an'd the 1 other on soft ground. Also, here the ground is soft,the felloes prevent the wheels and cutter-blades from sinking toodeeply.. Thus, in the riding type of cutter where the usual runningWheels have beeneliminated,

the blade-supporting felloe Wheels of my in-.

ventionperform all the functions of-the discarded Wheels Withoutsacrificing any of their advantages. I What I claim 1s: p 1; Astalk-cutter including a" frame, an

axle journaled therein, a pair of blade-supporting wheels keyed to saidaxle, a plurality of cutter-blades mounted on said Wl16lS,

and a drum, located between said wheels and provided with pro eetions'forinlng. extensions of said outter-blades.

' journaled therein, a pairof blade-support- 2. A stalk-cutter includinga frame, an

axle journaled therein, a pair of blade-supporting Wheels keyed-to saidaXle, a plurality of cutter-blades mounted on said Wheels, a

hollow druni surrounding said axle and supported by said Wheels, and aplurality of projections on said drum formingextensions of sandcutter-blades.

' 3. A stalk-cutter including afra-me, anaxle ing Wheels keyed to saidaxle, each Wheel having a groove in itsinner face, a hollow drumsurrounding said shaft and supported in said grooves, a plurality ofcutter blades mountedon'said Wheels, and a'plurality of projections" onsaid drum forming extensions of said butter-blades. p

4:. A'stalk outter including a franie,'an axle ing Wheels keyed to saidaxle, and a druin 4'0 journaled therein, a pair of lolade-support-.

surrounding said axle between said Wheels,

said drum having a plurality of non-elegging pockets. 7 V e 1 5. Astalk-cutter ineludlng a fr aine,an axle journaled therein, a pair ofblade-supporting Wheels keyed to said aXle, each heel l1av-v 'ing agrogweinlts lnner face, and a hollow drainsurrminding said axle andhaving its ends seouredin said grooves, said drum having a plurality ofnon-clogglng pockets,"

- 6. (A stalk-cutter including" a. frame, an

axle journaled therein, a-pair of blade-sup porting Wheels keyed to said8316,91 plural

